Love Will Find Away
Ok so here is chapter 'Lucky' 13…I hope it's epic—ness impresses as it took me a few days to actually translate this from my head to the page so be prepared for some Ark and Msquared awesome… song used in this chapter 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' yet another Sinatra covered standard I know but it works…. Anyway still don't own the fandoms cause if I did there would be no storyline dictated exits or couple split ups do to either lazy writing or real life writing the script …
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Kristina stood in her hotel room gazing at her reflection and letting a small smile cross her lips. She had to admit, she did a pretty fantastic job in picking out a dress for her date as the silvery knee length dress would definitely make Artie realize what he gave up when he dumped her, and the fact that she could ware the fantastic silver heels she was wearing without feeling guilty was all the better.
Running her hand through her hair that had been hanging in a silken wave down her back she was at the moment pondering as to weather she should pin it into an up-do however she was distracted by a knock on her door and a soft, familiar chirp in the hallway.
"Kristina," Molly's voice rang, "Kristina are you there."
Opening the door to her sister the worst possible thought filled her mind.
"Oh my god is it mom? The baby?"
Her sister shook her head.
"Relax Kristina, nothing's wrong…"
It was then that the younger girl paused to look her sister up and down.
"In fact I was just going to ask if you were going to join us for dinner but apparently you've got plans."
A devilish smile crossed Molly's lips now as she took a seat on the edge of the bed.
"I thought you said Blaine was heading back early though to spend some time with his family?"
"He did," Kristina said before changing the subject, "anyway Molly what do you think, hair up or down."
Molly rolled her eyes at the way her older sister decided to change the subject however she decided to go with it, after all she knew that she'd be able to get whatever she needed out of her older sis eventually.
"Up," she said with a smile and Kristina nodded. Personally she'd been leaning toward pulling her hair into an up do as well.
"Anyway, was there anything else you wanted to talk about Molly or did you just want to invite me to dinner."
Molly let out a sigh.
"Well," she said thinking that there was plenty she could converse with her sister about.
"Well, think about it, I'm going to go in the bathroom and fix my hair alright."
Molly simply nodded as she watched her sister enter the hotel room's bathroom just as the faint sounds of Hoku's 'Perfect Day' filled the air.
"Kristina," Molly called out before reaching for the phone, shrugging her shoulders as she looked down at the caller ID.
It read CALLER UNKNOWN and yet the number seemed vaguely familiar to her eyes making her wonder just who it was calling, and if this caller had anything to do with her sister being all dressed up for a night on the town while her boyfriend was MIA.
"Hello," Molly said picking up the phone totally unaware of the voice that was about to talk back to her.
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While Kristina was fixing her hair and Molly was on the phone other members of their close knit circle were also getting ready for the night ahead, namely the occupants in the hotel room just next door.
Mike nervously stood in the hallway placing a hand in his pocket to allow his knuckles to brush against the ring box before reaching up and knocking on Mercedes hotel room door.
Seconds later the young woman opened her door and a wide smile crossed his lips.
"Hey beautiful, so are you ready for tonight."
Despite going out with the boy since the latter part of Sophomore year and sharing an apartment with him when she was in Providence the simple way he called her beautiful always made her weak in the knees, that night was no exception as she felt his lips brushing gently on her cheek seconds later.
As her boyfriend pulled back Mercedes' eyes fell upon him. He was looking fantastic but when did he ever not however looking down at the simple yet classic black dress that Kurt picked out for her on their shopping trip she somehow felt she was over dressed for whatever occasion that her boyfriend had planed and her apprehension was apparently showing in her eyes as the next words out of Mike's mouth were…
"Cedes, is there something wrong?" placing a gentle hand on her shoulder as he spoke he began to get nervous thinking of the worst-case sinario. What if Mercedes was about to break up with him in some cruel trick of fate? What if….
"Nothing, it's just I'm wondering if I'm just a bit over dressed, I mean I told Kurt the two of us were going out tonight and he got that mad look in his eyes like back in High School when someone would utter the words makeover, or sale, or…"
"Stop, you know that you could be wearing a potato sack and you'd still take my breath away."
A faint blush filled up her dark cheeks.
"Yes, but a potato sack is hardly appropriate attire unless your name is Lady Gaga which last time I checked it unfortunately wasn't."
"Which is a good thing, because I don't love Lady Gaga as much as I love you Mercedes Jones."
He sucked up a deep breath as his heart pounded and his pulse raced and he wondered if he should just do things now and not wait until the carriage ride, especially when her lips met his for a passionate kiss.
Once they pulled back a smile crossed her lips.
"So, what do you have planed for this evening anyway Chang, and it better be fantastic."
"Oh, it'll be fantastic alright," he said in a promising tone as they headed out of the hotel.
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"Hello," a familiar voice rang into the teen's ear causing a shiver to run down her spine while she began to ponder as to why this particular person was ringing her sister's cell-phone at this very moment.
"What is your business calling my sister after you've left her with years of pain and heartbreak."
"Because I feel bad about it."
"You do?" Molly's voice asked, her scorn filled tone shifting to a sweet sing song one.
"I do, so, anyway is Kristina around."
"Well she's in the bathroom getting ready to…."
It was then it hit Molly.
"Oh my god she's about to go out on a date with you isn't she?"
"Well…um…that depends, do you approve of it."
"Since when does my sister need my approval? Anyways you do know she HAS a new boyfriend now so tonight isn't going to mean anything no matter how amazing my sister looks right."
"Kristina looks amazing you say? Anyways I know, I've seen her with Blaine and he makes her happy and there is no way I want to make your sister sad…again."
"You better not make her cry tonight, because while I think your gestures have been romantic and I envy the day when I'll find myself a guy just half as amazing as you were back when you and Krissy were together in High School I swear to god I'll have Puck, or my Uncle Sonny track you down and well…just use your imagination clear."
"Crystal."
"That's good," she said as Kristina re-entered the room, her hair pinned up in an elegant up-do, "anyway do you want to talk to my sister now she just stepped in the room."
"No, I was just making sure she wasn't bailing on me but from the sound of things it seems things are still on, tell her I'll see her in a few alright."
"Alright."
Molly clicked off the phone now and looked into her sister's eyes.
"So, who was it on the phone."
"Artie…. Since when were you talking to him again and more importantly are you cheating on Blaine with him."
Kristina paused wondering if it was actually considered cheating when the boyfriend you were allegedly seeing was really just your gay best friend slash study buddy.
"I'm not cheating on Blaine thank you very much, it's just a nice Italian dinner with an old friend."
"Kristina, I may not be as fashion savvy as our step brother but from the look of your dress it doesn't look like just a nice Italian dinner."
Kristina let out a sigh before looking at her sister.
"Just, please don't tell anyone I'm going out with Artie tonight alright… not even Kurt ok."
"But."
"PLEASE Molly, I'll get you whatever you want."
"You don't need to bribe me you know, I'm your sister, I'll do it for free….although there was a leather-bound journal I've been eyeing for a while."
"It's yours."
A smile crossed Molly's lips, as she once more looked her sister up and down. You do look beautiful by the way and Artie's a lucky guy to be in your presence tonight, innocent little dinner or otherwise."
Kristina nodded in agreement as she shuffled her kid sister out before applying one final coat of makeup before taking her own leave.
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As the cab reached one of the many-famed celebrity owned eateries that the city had to offer Mercedes did somewhat of a double take.
"Are you sure the cab is in the right place?" she asked, "I mean we saw this place on the Travel Channel last month and I know that it's like thirty bucks just for an appetizer."
Mike just nodded as he let out a sigh.
"I can't fool you Cedes," he said with a chuckle as he paid the cab driver before exiting the cab and walking over to his girlfriend's door to open it for her like the gentleman that he was, "but it was a good tease wasn't it."
"Your evil."
However she couldn't stay mad at him as he smiled his adorable can't do no wrong smile in her direction before holding out a hand to hers and edging her to come on. Nodding at him she did as she was told and walked with Mike about a block away where there was a simple New York hot dog stand in the distance.
"Hot Dogs," she said rolling her eyes, "our big date in the big apple and you take me for hot dogs? Seriously?"
"Who says it's just hot dogs."
Mercedes simply rolled her eyes as Mike curled his lips into a sweet pout.
"Do you trust me Mercedes?"
"Do I trust you?"
He nodded as she looked into his pleading eyes, instantly knowing that he had something up his sleeves, now if only she could figure out just what that something was.
Simply nodding Mercedes followed Mike toward the stand which to her eyes looked to be closed and she was about to say something however she knew she'd be breaking her vow of trust and so instead she decided to go with the flow.
Entering the small seating area that the stand had she noticed all but one table indeed been cleaned off for the evening while that one last table was set up for two.
"Mike, you did this."
He nodded.
"How?"
"Lets just say I know a guy who knows a guy."
All Mercedes need do next was raise an eyebrow before Mike smiled and decided to clarify.
"Milo made a few calls, but don't worry we shouldn't have any trouble from the mob… at least I hope not."
"The MOB?"
"Milo's father is notorious gangster Maximums Giambetti, but he's based in Italy now and hardly remembers Milo's name and…."
"And Rachel knows?"
"I don't know, maybe but this isn't about Milo and Rachel it's about us."
"You brought up Milo."
"Point taken…. Anyway…"
Mike reached over to the bottle of diet cola that sat in the center of the table and began to pour Mercedes a drink while keeping a perma grin on his lips.
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Arriving at the restaurant Kristina immediately spotted Artie standing (she still couldn't get over that fact) in the lobby with a smile on his face and a single rose in his hand.
"For you," he said with a smile.
"Thanks," she said taking the flower from him and tossing a smile right back to him.
"Molly was right you know, you do look amazing."
Kristina silently nodded as her eyes drifted to her date wondering if he knew that things that his wearing a suit did to her both physically and mentally.
Letting out a sigh she stared into his glistening blue orbs for a few silent moments before his whisper took her out of her daze.
"Kristina, are you alright."
"I'm fine, it's just it's weird you know…. I mean here I am in three inch heels no less and you're….your taller then me Artie."
Reaching out to brush back a stray bang that fell into his date's eye a smile crossed the young man's face as he momentarily forgot what brought them to the moment they were currently in.
"The better to kiss you," he seductively whispered leaning in to plant one on Kristina who promptly shrugged back.
"I'm sorry," Artie said, "I forgot for a moment that we weren't…anyway care to head to our table now so that we can order and catch up on…well life."
A smile crossed her lips as she nodded.
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"Damn Chang I shouldn't have judged you," Mercedes said after they finished their gourmet New York hot dogs, "these hot dogs were the best I've had in my life."
"See, I told you to trust me," he said with a smirk.
"You did, didn't you."
Mike just nodded as once again he casually placed his hand in the ring pocket feeling the box and wondering if he should jump start his timing despite the romantic vision he had playing out in his head however he shook the notion off and simply smiled at Mercedes.
"And this is just the beginning, the night is still young."
"Let me guess, you've got a nice little gelato stand in mind for dessert?"
Deciding to tease his date a bit he simply shrugged his shoulders….
"Maybe," he spoke keeping on a poker face as he took Mercedes' hand and headed outside where a horse drawn carriage was now parked by the curb.
Mercedes' eyes lit up at the sight as Mike pulled her closer.
"For me?"
"For us."
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They had been sitting at the restaurant now for about twenty minutes filling each other in on what was going on in their lives the past few years. Artie was all ears in hearing all the gossip about his former classmates while Kristina found it fascinating that after taking a year off from school Artie was back and highly considering changing from a double major in business and film studies to becoming pre-med.
"Is it shallow that I want you to change majors just so that I can have a viable nickname for you."
Taking a bite of his meal Artie raised his eye at her comment.
"I mean I can't call you wheels now obviously."
"Obviously," Artie replied chuckling, "though I'm already a year off cause of the surgery and I wouldn't be able to make the change till fall at the earliest."
"Then why did you bring it up?"
"You asked what's on my mind…. Anyway you know what else is on my mind right this moment."
"What."
"Three things…. The first…you're cooking is so much better then this."
"Artie Abrams are you trying to make up for lost time in the flattering department."
"Who me? Never, I only speak the truth woman I know it's bee forever but you should remember that."
Letting out a laugh at the psudo gangster talk that she secretly missed she waited to hear his other two thoughts.
"Second, how did you and Blaine meet…. I mean if I'm stepping over a line you don't have to answer."
"No, I'll answer, I kind of knew Blaine back when we were at McKinley, well by reputation anyways…."
Watching Artie's jealous gaze hit her she rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh.
"He was featured soloist for one of the clubs we competed against in glee."
"Dalton right? I thought he looked familiar that's why I asked."
"Yea Dalton, anyway he is in a couple of my classes at Yale and turns out he like me is pre law and so we went to Starbucks a few times to study and well… things clicked."
"Clicked?"
She didn't know what prompted her to say the thing she said next but after swallowing a small lump of nerves that began to from in her throat Kristina smiled.
"Yes, he understood how some of my friends were pressuring me…."
"Pressuring you…to do what or should I even be asking."
"Pressuring me to move on from you, to quote Puck the best way to get over one guy is to get under another."
Rolling his eyes in disgust Artie tried to comprehend what he'd just heard. It definitely sounded like something Puckerman would say but he couldn't believe he would have actually said it.
"And so after going out for coffee with Blaine and finding out that he was gay I casually asked if he'd mind pretending to be my boyfriend to get Puck and everyone else off my back."
"So then your single."
She didn't want to comment for fear that she'd break and tell him that the only person she ever loved was him which wasn't a lie but at the same time somehow kind of made her sound weak so instead of replying to her date's question a simple smile crossed her lips.
"So, what was the third thing you wanted to ask me Artie."
He smiled at the way she ever so casually changed the subject from her relationship status to his original line of questioning.
"Kristina Adele Corinthos Davis can I have this dance."
There are many many crazy things
That will keep me loving you
And with your permission
May I list a few
Listening to the familiar sounds of Sinatra beginning to play in the background a smile crossed her lips while her head gently nodded.
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As the carriage made it's way toward the park Mercedes let her eyes take in all the sights that they passed.
This was like something out of a fairytale and the usually vocal diva was rendered speechless from it's magic.
Resting her head gently now on Mike's shoulder she couldn't help but feel the way his heart was racing.
Thump-bump-thump-bump…
"Mike, are you alright?" she asked in a whisper.
She was met with silence as little did she know the true meaning of Mike's racing heart…at least not yet.
Suddenly the carriage came to a stop at the edge of the park.
"So, what's next on the agenda? A romantic stroll under the stars."
Mike almost said yes, if only to stall a moment in time to calm his nerves however instead he shook his head while mentally figuring out how to position himself to do this…
Mercedes just sat watching as Mike moved in a slightly less graceful manor then he was accustomed to until suddenly he was on his knees somewhat facing her while his hand reached into his pocket.
"Oh my god…"
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The way you wear your hat
The way you sip your tea
The memory of all that
No they can't take that away from me
Artie's arms wrapped around her petite frame as he got her to the center of the restaurant's make shift dance floor causing two things to flash in her mind, the first being the thought that it was kind of awkward being the youngest couple standing there and the other was yet again that they were 'standing' there and for a moment she wanted to be pinched because she thought for sure she was dreaming like that one time after Kiefer knocked her unconscious.
The way your smile just beams
The way you sing off key
The way you haunt my dreams
No they can't take that away from me
Sure she'd 'danced' with Artie plenty of times before when he was in his chair but it was never in this fluid and flawless motion. Not that she would of minded if he'd been in his chair forever and would never dance the way he was dancing now cause she didn't she loved Artie from the bottom of her heart, chair or no chair and as he began to softly whisper along with Frank as he sung the words her heart began to flutter all the more.
We may never never meet again, on that bumpy road to love
But I'll always, always keep the memory of…
The way you hold your knife
The way we danced till three
The way you changed my life
No they can't take that away from me
Soon the song ended and another standard began however the young former flames stood frozen in the center of the dance floor, eyes locked as their faces moved closer and closer and soon their lips collided into a long and lingering kiss.
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"Mercedes Jones, you're the most amazingly, astounding, wonderful girl, woman that I've ever known.…."
Mercedes simply shook her head a bit impressed that he was quoting Titanic in this proposal while Mike opened up the box in his hand
"Mike…" she said upon seeing the diamond, wondering how on earth he could afford something like that on what he had however she just let that question simmer in her mind while he continued to talk.
"And even before I joined glee, when I watched Karofsky and Azimio and hell even Puck tossing slushies at you I always wanted to defend you, to be your knight and shining armor as pathetic as that may sound. Anyway what I'm trying to say is that the past four years have been the best ones of my life and I hope to spend the next forty at least with you as my wife."
A tear of joy now streamed down her cheek while her head simply nodded and her hand reached out for Mike to slip the ring onto her finger.
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Pulling back from Artie's lips she watched as a sad puppy dog look crossed his eyes.
"Kristina, I did it again and I'm sorry."
"What's to be sorry about, I kissed you back didn't I."
"Well… that is… um I guess you did, so….does that mean."
"I don't know, I'm like twenty shades of confused right now… I mean I should hate you for what you did but at the same time I can't picture myself with anyone else but you."
"So then what do you propose?"
"We take thing slowly and in secret for a while and after a few months if we feel the time is right we come out to the rest of the gang in a dramatic fashion that would make Kurt proud to say I'm his step sister."
"So then, next weekend care to drive to Boston and cook for me."
"Maybe not next week but I promise…."
It was then that her cell phone buzzed.
"We're you expecting a text?" Artie asked as Kristina nodded reading the three simple words sent to her by Mike Chang's cell phone number
She Said Yes…
Kristina simply smiled glad that both she and Mike were getting happy endings that evening.
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TBC
Ok so as of now I'm partially blocked as to what to do next, I do have an idea of Artie/Kristina on Sonny's island eating at me as well as the big reveal of Artie to the rest of the club however at this time I'd like to know what other plot points you want to see shown…